GOALSCORER REQUIRED: Sunderland need a decent striker this summer; here’s FIVE they could target

Jason Cummings - Nottingham Forest

Despite arriving in the East Midlands highly-tipped last summer, Jason Cummings wasn’t able to thrive at Nottingham Forest last year - and then a controversial loan move to Rangers failed to re-ignite the 22-year-old’s season, scoring on just two occasions.

Despite his struggles since his departure from boyhood club Hibernian, he still boasts over 60 goals - impressive for a player who is still very much in the early stages of his career.

Although he might cost a pretty penny (by League One standards) a fee close to £1m may convince Aitor Karanka to cash in on a player that wasn’t able to adapt to life in the Championship, and Cummings may see Sunderland as the ideal place to get his stumbling career back on track.

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Jack Marriott - Peterborough United

Undoubtedly the best striker in League One, Jack Marriott is in huge demand - with Rangers and Celtic even showing interest in Posh forward, who has raked in an impressive haul of 33 goals this season. He would also not come cheap.

However, if we’re serious about getting out of the third tier at the first time of asking it’s absolutely imperative that we spend a sizable chunk of what money we do have on a forward capable of scoring upwards of twenty goals in a season - and Marriott has more than proven that this season whilst playing in a team which, in truth, hasn’t ever really looked capable of promotion or even challenging for a place in the League One play-offs.

Peterborough manager Steve Evans has already admitted the striker will likely leave the ABAX Stadium in the summer and, although he’s already spoken about wanting to test himself at a higher level, surely the temptation of joining a club and project the size of Sunderland is enough to convince talented players to come here and prove themselves on a platform as big as they’re likely to find in the Football League.

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Clayton Donaldson - Sheffield United

Jamaica international Donaldson took our defence to the cleaners last September at the Stadium of Light, but despite an impressive start wasn’t able to dislodge fan-favourite Billy Sharp from Sheffield United’s starting eleven much over the course of what has been a thoroughly impressive season back in the Championship for Chris Wilder’s side.

At the age of 34 he’s no spring chicken, but at this level he is not only experienced and battle-hardened, having scored close to a century of goals in the third tier during popular stints at Crewe Alexandra and Brentford.

He’s out of contract in the summer - and we could do a lot worse!

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Louis Moult - Preston North End

Moult failed to set the world alight following a January move to Preston North End, netting only the one goal in the league as he struggled to oust Sean Maguire for Alex Neil’s side.

If he’s available, he’s likely to have offers from clubs higher up the league ladder than us.

But, with our impending takeover and more positive outlook, the powerful striker may see Wearside as a place to make a real name for himself and could sacrifice a season outside of the second tier of English football - provided we can convince him that Sunderland are capable of an immediate return.

He’s strong, knows where the net is and - due to his workmanlike attitude on the pitch - I’m convinced that he’d be very well liked at a club like Sunderland.

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Nadir Çiftçi - Celtic

The burly Turkish target man has not had the best of times since his big move to the Scottish champions in 2015, spending almost the entire time out on loan, struggling to find a permanent home.

A short-term move to rivals Motherwell didn’t work out last term, but in League One the 6ft striker could prove to be a bargain and will likely be available at next to no transfer fee at all.

He could prove to be a risk free addition to a squad that undoubtedly needs players that have a point to prove, nous and an ability to mix it with burly central defenders.

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